Currently, China is probably the most interesting country on the planet.

China is the world's third biggest country by territory, and has the largest population. It is one of the longest-running civilizations on earth with its unique and attractive culture. It has developed at record speed to become the second largest economy in the world. Furthermore, China holds innumerable attractions for tourists to explore.

Below you will read about the top facts that you must know about this fascinating country.

2. China Enjoys Great Diversity in Geography

Tibet is highest place in China

At 9.6 million square kilometers, China is the third largest country by area in the world. It has a north-south extent of 3,900 km and an east-west extent of 5,000 km. 33% of the Chinese territory is mountainous, 26% high plateaus, 19% basins and deserts, 12% plains regions, and 10% hills.

Highest Mountain and Third Deepest Depression

China has the highest point in the world: Mount Everest 8,848m (29,029 ft) as well as the third lowest depression in the world: Turpan Depression -154m (-505 ft).

The climate in China varies greatly...

Generally speaking, the north is colder and drier than the south, and the west is drier than the east.

Winter temperatures in Northeast China can reach -40 degrees centigrade, while summer in the south can be 40. Rainfall varies from a few millimeters per year in the Taklamakan Desert to over 3 meters a year in the southeast.

3. China Has a Fast Booming Economy

China has been the world’s fastest growing economy for the last 30 years (10% or more per year). It is now the world's second largest economy, its 2016 GDP being 11.4 trillion USD.

China is known as the factory of the world. It is the world's largest producer of concrete, steel, fertilizer, clothing and toys.

Cities are growing and transportation improving...

China's pace of urbanization is fast: 300 million people have moved from rural areas to cities in the last 30 years (See China's Top Large Cities), and the same is predicted for the next 30 years (See Developing China).

5. China Enjoys Great Language Diversity

Mandarin is the official Chinese and is taught in schools all over China. But there are many dialects...

Some regions speak Mandarin with a dialect; some regions have their own distinct languages. Cantonese, for example, is spoken in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau. Some around Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu speak Wu dialect. These dialects can be very different from Mandarin.